Registration fees for imported used cars leads to country's first Euro complaint

The excise tax levied on imported used cars in this country (now in the form of 'a registration payment') can amount to as much as 65% of their value depending on the age of a given car, while domestic used cars remain free from such a tax. This system is alleged to be in breach of Article 90 of the EU treaty, which prohibits the use of custom duties or other similar instruments that may obstruct the free movement of goods within the union. According to Rzeczpospolita, it is certain that the Commission will start infringement proceedings, although Maria Haż, a spokesperson for the country's Finance Ministry, countered the claims, saying the regulations were fully compliant with EU rules and pointed to the fact that similar registration payments in some other EU states, such as Denmark, are even higher. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B1) E.B.